OT labels for eras

[Vicky Ayech]

I grew up with BC and Ad. It was good enough for us! I'm reading an
article on Spain through the ages, a brief cover it, and they are
sayinf BCE and CE. Yes I know it is Before Common Era and Common Era.
When did that happen and why?? It is very annoying. And is it
necessary? Don't lots of books have tobe corrected now?

The article is on EyeonSpain, which I still get a weekly news letter
on and which often has interesting articles and blogs.
https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/iwonderwhy/19903/a-brief-history-of-spain.aspx

[Mike]

Post by Vicky Ayech
I grew up with BC and Ad. It was good enough for us! I'm reading an
article on Spain through the ages, a brief cover it, and they are
sayinf BCE and CE. Yes I know it is Before Common Era and Common Era.
When did that happen and why?? It is very annoying. And is it
necessary? Don't lots of books have tobe corrected now?
The article is on EyeonSpain, which I still get a weekly news letter
on and which often has interesting articles and blogs.
https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/iwonderwhy/19903/a-brief-history-of-spain.aspx

I’ve heard a suggestion we now adopt:
BC - Before Covid
AC - After Covid

[Tony Smith Gloucestershire]

Post by Vicky Ayech
I grew up with BC and Ad. It was good enough for us! I'm reading an
article on Spain through the ages, a brief cover it, and they are
sayinf BCE and CE. Yes I know it is Before Common Era and Common Era.
When did that happen and why?? It is very annoying. And is it
necessary? Don't lots of books have tobe corrected now?
The article is on EyeonSpain, which I still get a weekly news letter
on and which often has interesting articles and blogs.
https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/iwonderwhy/19903/a-brief-history-of-spain.aspx

In Soviet times the Russian language had "of our era" for AD and no doubt something similar for BC.

[Penny]

On Sat, 06 Jun 2020 09:48:35 +0100, Vicky Ayech <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Vicky Ayech
I grew up with BC and Ad. It was good enough for us! I'm reading an
article on Spain through the ages, a brief cover it, and they are
sayinf BCE and CE. Yes I know it is Before Common Era and Common Era.
When did that happen and why??

I first came noticed it about 14 years ago but, to quote wikipedia:

"The expression has been traced back to 1615, when it first appeared in a
book by Johannes Kepler as the Latin annus aerae nostrae vulgaris, and to
1635 in English as "Vulgar Era". The term "Common Era" can be found in
English as early as 1708, and became more widely used in the mid-19th
century by Jewish religious scholars. In the later 20th century, the use of
CE and BCE was popularized in academic and scientific publications as a
culturally neutral term. It is also used by some authors and publishers who
wish to emphasize sensitivity to non-Christians by not explicitly
referencing Jesus as "Christ" and Dominus ("Lord") through use of the
abbreviation[c] "AD"."

Which surprised me but certainly makes sense. AIUI, Christ himself is
believed to have been born several years Before Christ.

Post by Vicky Ayech
It is very annoying. And is it
necessary? Don't lots of books have tobe corrected now?

No. BC and AD remain valid.

All calendars are man-made, usually based upon astronomical observance,
some more accurate than others. Year 1 varies between cultures and may
restart with every king/emperor.

Having a common recording system makes sense.

[Marmaduke Jinks]

Post by Vicky Ayech
I grew up with BC and Ad. It was good enough for us! I'm reading an
article on Spain through the ages, a brief cover it, and they are
sayinf BCE and CE. Yes I know it is Before Common Era and Common Era.
When did that happen and why?? It is very annoying. And is it
necessary? Don't lots of books have tobe corrected now?
The article is on EyeonSpain, which I still get a weekly news letter
on and which often has interesting articles and blogs.
https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/iwonderwhy/19903/a-brief-history-of-spain.aspx

Jeremy Paxman uses this convention on UC.

MJ